Best AR-10 Brand Rifle?

OK, here is my story. I own a Cobb 50 (looks like a big AR rifle) and a Bushmaster XM15-E2S, now I want an AR-10 to fill the gap between the two. My question is, which ar-10 maker would be a good choice? Preferences are as follows: flat-top upper with removable carry handle, rail style gas block with removable front sight, minimum 20" barrel, and also needs to have readily available mags.(No "homesmithing")

Check out the DPMS offerings.They have exactly what you want,and are fine rifles.Armalite owns the "AR 10" copyright or trademark ,so nobody else calls their rifles an AR10,even though it would simplify matters considerably.

H2O MAN

February 3, 2008, 08:51 AM

I had an ArmaLite, it was very nice, but I sold it to fund another M14 build.

Richard.Howe

February 3, 2008, 09:18 AM

I've narrowed my search to DPMS and Armalite -- but like you, am struggling between the two.

rbernie

February 3, 2008, 10:10 AM

There's not much technical difference between the two. At one point or another, each will be a little cheaper or more expensive, each will have cheaper/more expensive mags, and so forth.

I have Armalites because that's what I found first. In general, I have been far more pleased with Armalite's customer service than I have with DPMS's.

ckay

February 3, 2008, 11:28 AM

If you want the real thing, get an Armalite.

H2O MAN

February 3, 2008, 11:31 AM

Speaking of mags... ArmaLite's Gen II mags are made by CMI, the same company that currently makes USGI issue M14 mags.
The 20 and 25 round mags are outstanding and available brand new in bulk at reasonable prices.

Wolfman_556

February 3, 2008, 03:07 PM

I'd opt for the Armalite.

Richard.Howe

February 3, 2008, 03:24 PM

If you want the real thing, get an Armalite.

Ok, except that the company called Armalite is a very different one than the original. So, the only "real thing" about the company is the name.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armalite :

Independent of ArmaLite, Karl Lewis and Jim Glazier formed a company named Eagle Arms in Coal Valley Illinois in 1986. Lewis had manufactured a wide variety of both commercial and military parts for M-16 rifles, and Eagle Arms assumed the increasingly distracting retail business from Lewis’ company, Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT). Eagle Arms initially marketed M16 and AR-15 type rifle parts. The early Stoner patents had expired, and Eagle was able to build both parts and complete rifles. In 1989 Eagle commenced production of complete rifles, with LMT serving as the major supplier.

In January 1994 Mr. Mark Westrom purchased the company. Westrom was a former Army Ordnance Officer and a civilian employee of the Weapons Systems Management Directorate of the Army’s Armament Materiel and Chemical Command (AMCCOM) at nearby Rock Island Arsenal.

After the purchase, he continued producing Eagle Arms EA -15 rifles. Plans were made to add a line of telescopic sights to the product line. Westrom’s background in military Service Rifle competition produced a focus on high grade target rifles even before the AR-15/M-16 rifles came to dominate American Service Rifle competition in the mid-90s.

In November 1994 Westrom decided to initiate the design of a .308 caliber AR-10 type rifle, to be called the “M-10” in line with Eagle’s production of .223 caliber “M-15” rifles. Work on the project began in November 1994. The bulk of the engineering work was contracted out to LMT, with an experienced Quality Assurance expert, Mr. David Dorbeck, doing the bulk of the work.

By coincidence, the president of the company manufacturing telescopic sights for Eagle, Dr. John Williams, had worked for ArmaLite in his youth. He introduced Westrom to the former Production Manager for ArmaLite, Mr. John McGerty. McGerty led Westrom to John Ugarte, the most recent President of ArmaLite.

Ugarte had retained rights to the ArmaLite trademark. In early 1995 Westrom purchased those rights, and production of ArmaLite rifles resumed in Geneseo, Illinois. The corporation was reorganized as ArmaLite, with Eagle Arms converted to a division of ArmaLite.

Not to say it's a bad company -- I'm very close to buying one of their rifles -- but let's not say it's the original Armalite.

Will Learn

February 3, 2008, 03:39 PM

I have a DPMS 308LR that I am very happy with. It shoots great(MOA), but is heavy. I think the armalites are more expensive but nice as well. I hear C products is making fairly cheap magazines for DPMS .308s.

Magnuumpwr

February 3, 2008, 03:51 PM

So as par for the course, it looks like a toss up between DPMS and Armalite. The way it sounds both are really just about the same, so I guess my eyes will be kept toward pricing. Thanks for all the advise.:)

rbernie

February 3, 2008, 03:56 PM

As an additional comment - one of the things for which Armalite is known is the accuracy and longevity of their chrome-lined barrels. DPMS doesn't offer chrome-lined barrels on all their models.

Evil Monkey

February 3, 2008, 06:26 PM

The Armalite "AR-10" isn't actually an AR-10.

The Armalite "ar-10" uses a mag based on the M14 mag. The Armalites will cost around $45-60. The DPMS/SR25 mags you can get whole sale for $28-30 each and they are mags the original AR-10 used.

All the rifles are practically in the same price range. DPMS, Armalite, POF, LWRC, etc. The smart thing to do is get one that uses the DPMS/SR-25 mags which are cheaper. Save money for ammo.

MudPuppy

February 3, 2008, 06:53 PM

If you want the real thing, get an Armalite.

lol--if you want a real Armalite, get a time machine.

I'm not sure which of the two either, but I've enjoyed my dpms in 5.56...still not sure though.

Ndenway

February 3, 2008, 07:21 PM

Armalite, chrome lined barrels on the A4 models and stainless steel on the Target models and some special run A4s, lifetime warrenty, great customer service if you ever need it,